“Southwest Florida Symphony [has] found a new music director. And they didn’t have to go far to find him,” writes Charles Runnells in Monday’s (6/13) Fort Myers News-Press (FL). “Naples resident Radu Paponiu has spent five years as associate conductor of the Naples Philharmonic and music director of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (a job he’ll continue doing). He starts his new job at Southwest Florida Symphony on July 1. Paponiu, 32, was one of four guest conductors who conducted concerts with the orchestra during its 2021-22 season and were being considered for the job. And it was immediately obvious that he’d be a great fit, says symphony executive director Amy Ginsburg…. Paponiu felt that chemistry, too. And he says he was impressed with the orchestra and its skill…. Paponiu is only the sixth music director in the orchestra’s 62-year history. Its previous director, Nir Kabaretti, left the orchestra in 2020 after leading it for six years…. Paponiu says he’s loved Southwest Florida Symphony since the first time he saw the musicians perform about five years ago….‘I love the potential of the orchestra and I love the Southwest Florida audiences,’ ” he says.
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